20 technical interview questions for software developer fresher (2026 AI related Q/A included)

Technical interviews help companies evaluate your programming knowledge and problem solving skills. For fresh software developers, understanding core concepts is very important.

In 2026, many companies also expect basic knowledge of Artificial Intelligence along with programming fundamentals. Having some awareness of AI can give freshers an advantage during interviews.

This guide covers 20 common technical interview questions for software developer freshers. Each question includes a short explanation and a simple answer to help you prepare quickly.

Core Programming Questions

1. What is the difference between a Stack and a Queue?

This question checks if you understand how different data structures store and process data.
Answer:
A stack follows Last In First Out (LIFO). The last element added is removed first. A queue follows First In First Out (FIFO). The first element added is removed first.

2. What are the main principles of Object Oriented Programming (OOP)?

Interviewers ask this to see if you understand the foundation of modern programming.
Answer:
The four main principles of OOP are Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism, and Abstraction. These concepts help developers write organized and reusable code.

3. What is the difference between an Array and a Linked List?

This question tests your understanding of basic data structures.
Answer:
An array stores elements in continuous memory locations and allows fast access using indexes. A linked list stores elements in separate nodes connected by pointers, which makes insertion and deletion easier.

4. What is exception handling in programming?

This checks how you deal with errors that occur while a program runs.
Answer:
Exception handling is a way to manage runtime errors using structures like try, catch, and finally. It prevents the program from crashing and allows the error to be handled properly.

5. What are design patterns in software development?

Interviewers ask this to check your knowledge of common coding solutions.
Answer:
Design patterns are standard solutions to common software design problems. Examples include Singleton, Factory, and Observer patterns.

AI and Machine Learning Related Questions

6. What is Artificial Intelligence?

Interviewers ask this to check if you understand modern technology used in software development.
Answer:
Artificial Intelligence is the ability of machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as learning, decision making, and problem solving.

7. What is Machine Learning?

This question checks your basic understanding of how AI systems learn from data.
Answer:
Machine Learning is a part of Artificial Intelligence where computers learn from data and improve their performance without being directly programmed.

8. What is the difference between Supervised and Unsupervised Learning?

This helps interviewers see if you know the main types of machine learning.
Answer:
Supervised learning uses labeled data to train a model and predict outcomes. Unsupervised learning works with unlabeled data and finds patterns or relationships in the data.

9. What are Neural Networks?

This question checks your knowledge of an important concept used in modern AI systems.
Answer:
Neural networks are computer models inspired by the human brain. They use layers of connected nodes to process information and recognize patterns in data.

10. Name some popular AI frameworks used in development.

Interviewers ask this to see if you are familiar with tools used in AI projects.
Answer:
Some popular AI frameworks include TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit learn, and Keras. These tools help developers build and train machine learning models.

Data Structures and Algorithms Questions

11. What is the difference between BFS and DFS?

This question checks your understanding of graph traversal methods.
Answer:
BFS (Breadth First Search) explores nodes level by level. DFS (Depth First Search) explores one branch as far as possible before going back.

12. What is time complexity?

Interviewers ask this to see if you understand how efficient an algorithm is.
Answer:
Time complexity measures how the running time of an algorithm increases as the input size grows. It is usually expressed using Big O notation.

13. What is recursion?

This question tests your knowledge of a common programming technique.
Answer:
Recursion is a method where a function calls itself to solve smaller parts of a problem until a base condition is reached.

14. What is a hash table?

This checks your understanding of fast data storage and retrieval.
Answer:
A hash table is a data structure that stores data as key value pairs. It uses a hash function to quickly find and access values.

15. What is space complexity?

Interviewers ask this to evaluate how efficiently a program uses memory.
Answer:
Space complexity measures how much memory an algorithm needs as the input size increases.

Coding and Problem Solving Questions

16. How do you reverse a string in programming?

This question checks your logic and understanding of string manipulation.
Answer:
A string can be reversed by looping from the last character to the first and building a new string. Many programming languages also provide built in functions to reverse a string.

17. How do you check if a string or number is a palindrome?

This problem tests your logical thinking and condition checking skills.
Answer:
A palindrome can be checked by reversing the string or number and comparing it with the original value. If both are the same, it is a palindrome.

18. How do you sort an array?

Sorting is a common operation used in many software applications.
Answer:
An array can be sorted using algorithms such as Bubble Sort, Merge Sort, or Quick Sort. Many programming languages also provide built in sorting functions.

19. How do you detect duplicates in an array?

This question checks how you use data structures to solve problems efficiently.
Answer:
Duplicates can be detected by storing elements in a set or hash table while looping through the array. If an element already exists, it means a duplicate is found.

20. How can AI be integrated into a software application?

Interviewers ask this to see if you understand how modern applications use AI features.
Answer:
AI can be integrated using machine learning models, APIs, or AI frameworks. It can help add features such as chatbots, recommendations, image recognition, or predictive analytics.

Tips to Crack Software Developer Interviews in 2026

• Practice coding regularly to improve your problem solving skills. Platforms like coding challenge websites can help you gain confidence.

• Strengthen your understanding of data structures and algorithms since many interview questions are based on these concepts.

• Learn the basics of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. Even a basic understanding can help you stand out as a fresher.

• Work on small projects and be ready to explain them clearly during the interview.

• During the interview, focus on explaining your thought process instead of only giving the final answer.

Wrap-Up

Preparing for technical interviews as a fresher can feel challenging, but focusing on the right topics makes the process easier. Strong knowledge of programming fundamentals, data structures, and basic AI concepts can help you perform better in interviews.

By practicing these common technical interview questions and understanding the concepts behind them, you can approach your software developer interview with more confidence. Consistent practice and continuous learning are key to building a successful career in software development.